AWSP Blog

Working with challenging adult behaviors has similarities to working with behaviors we see in our students. Digging in, getting better at navigating the function of behavior, and hypothesizing what is behind the behaviors can help you support students and staff more calmly and insightfully. I ran across this “All Behavior is Communication” blog post from Lauren Pace (host of the Rising Lava Parenting Podcast) as I was looking for resources to help a new school leader navigate some tricky adult behaviors in her school. Although this blog refers to parenting strategies and young children, I think reading, listening, and pondering the basics about behavior as communication has some transferable skills and strategies pertinent to school leadership!

These emails are sent out weekly to leaders in special education and Section 504.. Each email contains tips and resources on a variety of topics that are meant to keep you informed and up-to-date.

The House of Origin cut-off has come and gone. Committee hearings have now started in earnest. The agendas can be quite lengthy as the rush to Sine Die begins in earnest. Various groups and individuals will have opportunities to testify “Pro” or “Con” on bills before the committee. Leadership and committee chairs then become the arbiters of which bills will advance further.

We reached the halfway point of this year’s short legislative session this week and have passed several important cut-off dates. The action is now focused on passing bills out of both the House and Senate. Bills must pass off each floor by February 15 to stay alive (unless they’re NTIB). After that, the process repeats all over again in the opposite house, only with a shorter timeline. Hearings in the education committees start back up next Wednesday.

At the end of January, over 25 educational leaders from K-12 and higher education attended our AWSP Mentor Program Stakeholder’s Convening to learn more about refreshing the AWSP Mentor training program. We asked attendees about their interest in participating on one of the work committees, taking into account the pressures of the current reality in school leadership, particular expertise in mentoring, and knowledge of the supports our school leaders need right now.